Georgie Packer | Senior Fundraising and Partnerships Manager | Apps for Good
I currently work for educational technology charity Apps for Good as Senior Fundraising and Partnerships Manager, working with partners to achieve the best outcomes for young people from ALL backgrounds, a mission I am very passionate about.
After leaving school in year 8 due to personal family trauma, I was home-educated studying for the few GCSEs I managed to complete. My education and career journey hasn’t always been straightforward, but it has been amazing and diverse.
From my first job at 14 years old, working in ‘Tasty Baps’ burger wagon. A fast food truck owned by my aunt that was stationed at a local industrial builders yard. Whilst not the most likely of starts, taught me a great deal.
I started working in a primary school 18 years old, working with students who struggled to access education in a mainstream environment. It was an incredible role, and a cathartic one for me. Eventually I was approached to become an adult-trainer for the Thrive Approach teaching senior leaders in school to understand trauma informed approaches.
I transitioned to work in the charity sector in 2019 and spent 3 great years at Chestnut Tree House Children’s Hospice managing events for over 500 people, and raising hundreds of thousands of pounds for Children and young people with life-limiting conditions .
Working with young people in need has always been the driving force behind what I do and I feel entirely committed to taking this forward in my current role and at all future opportunities.
Caroline Rees Williams | Trustee | The Valesco Foundation
Caroline is Operations Manager and EA to the CEO at The Valesco Group, responsible for operations and infrastructure.
She also sits on the Board of Trustees of The Valesco Foundation, responsible for the day-to-day running of the charity. Prior to joining Valesco, she worked at an award-winning international hospitality company within the Executive Team, where she managed the global headquarters across operations, finance and HR. Prior to this, she worked for a boutique executive search company, where she project-managed senior searches within the private equity and venture capital industries. Caroline holds a BSc. (Hons) Economics from the University of Birmingham.
Laura-Jane Piercy | Defence Lead | Defence and Security Accelerator
Laura-Jane Piercy joined the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) in October 2022 as the Defence Lead within the Partnerships and Impact Team.
This role sees her lead a team of seven embedded Defence Partners and three Exploitation Managers, ensuring the organisation has an understanding of defence challenges and the ability to showcase the impact of our work.
Prior to DASA she enjoyed a 20 year career within the Royal Air Force, joining in 2002 from college and into the Personnel Support Trade. A varied career path with 5 years experience in MOD Main Building and tours of Afghanistan and Al Udeid, she then decided to commission into the Personnel Branch. 10 years within the Officer cadre has given her a wealth of experience of employee wellbeing, discipline and staff work. Her final tour within the Royal Air Force saw her heading up the HR function at HQ Air Command – a privilege to command and look after a substantial workforce of over 2,400 employees.
Laura-Jane is married to Tim, a scientist within DSTL and has 2 young children; Isla and Jacob. They live in Winchester, having settled their over 10 years ago. Her family being the main driver for craving stability and leaving the RAF, she is grateful for the flexibility DASA brings to the work/life balancing act!
Lisa Rawlings | Talent Acquisition | Sierra Nevada Corporation Mission Systems UK
With a passion for serving my country, I embarked on my military career at a young age, driven by a deep-seated desire to contribute to national defence.
I served with the Royal Air Force for 25 years as an Air and Space operation specialist. I completed tours in Afghanistan, Cyprus, Germany, and the Falkland Island.
Whilst serving I was awarded both an individual commendation on the Queens birthday honours list and a team commendation on the New years honours list. Additionally, I was awarded a Good Show award for saving an F3 and crew when noticing a substantial leak before take off. Whilst recruiting for the RAF I was a finalist in the National Recruiter of the year.
Most recently I spent 6 years as the Armed Forces Liaison Officer for Gwent. Championing fair treatment of the Armed Forces Community. Embedding policies that ensure the Armed Forces Covenant is adhered.
Continuing my passion for the Armed Forces I have joined Sierra Nevada Corporation Mission Systems UK as Talent Acquisition. The company has over 55% of staff who are from the Armed Forces community and contribute to the UK defence.
Lorna Nunn | Station Environmental Protection Officer | Royal Air Force
I have had a varied career, mainly due to being a Mum and a military wife. I have chosen jobs that fit in with the family and their needs.
Once my children were older, I decided it was time to commit to a job that I enjoy and can learn from.
Having started work on an RAF base within the infrastructure team I gained a vast knowledge of the Station, how the funding works and the impacts of poor infrastructure. I was asked to step up and look after the role of Environmental Protection Officer when the previous job holder left. This was due to my work ethic and my knowledge of Station and its processes. For six month I covered the role while still carrying out my current full-time job. I managed to carry out training and continually increase my knowledge enabling me to deal with issues arising. I applied for the Environmental Protection Officer and, having been successful, officially started in May 2023. It is the most fulfilling, interesting and exciting job I have ever had and I know this is where I want to stay.
Cara Swain | Medical Officer | Royal Navy
I studied medicine at the University of Bristol, joining the Royal Navy as a medical officer cadet in 2009.
After graduating in 2012, I worked as a Foundation Doctor for two years at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, before deploying as a ship’s doctor (General Duties Medical Officer) on four different ships to locations including the Arabian Gulf, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, and the South Atlantic from 2014-2017. During this time, I used my experiences to complete a postgraduate diploma in Global & Remote Healthcare, and discovered my passion for education and training through the provision of medical training to military personnel.
In 2017, I commenced surgical training in Southwest England, with the aim to qualify as a Trauma & Emergency general surgeon. During the last three years, I have been undertaking a PhD in the field of medical education at the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm. My research explores the use of live animal simulation in relation to learning to manage complex surgical trauma, and has involved a novel international multi-sited study of surgical simulation training with military and civilian medical professionals.
I established the Royaumont Forum in 2022, an organisation designed to foster collegiality and provide networking and informal mentoring opportunities to Royal Navy Medical Officers, particularly those who are in training.
I advocate for using education as a catalyst for change in areas including harm reduction in trauma medicine, professional sociocultural improvement and gender equality.
Marzia Bolpagni | Associate Director | Mace
Marzia is Civil Engineer specialised in digital technologies. She is a champion in service excellence and innovation where she supports clients on digital strategy and applications.
She does not just deliver excellence in her company: her work has an impact at international level. Lead author of the EU standard BSEN17412-1:2020 on the use of digital engineering to define digital requirements: the only EU standard in this field lead by a woman. Thanks to the popularity of the work, the standard is now under adoption at international level under her guidance. She is the youngest leader of a 30+experts from 16 countries at CENTC442 and ISO.
She coordinates 150+international volunteers in translating complex STEM concepts. She is the youngest ambassador of Nima, promoting the adoption of technologies in the UK Construction. She is Honorary Associate Professor at UCL, Visiting Professor at Northumbria University. She co-authored a relevant UK BIM Framework national guidance. Marzia is Founder of Italians in Digital Transformations UK, a community of 700+ Italian professionals working in the UK.
She gave lectures to 27 international universities so far, supervises dissertations and she mentors 20+ a year students to inspire the new generation on STEM career. She is keynote speaker in 200+events in 27countries, author of 25+scientific articles, a book, included in magazines/journals, podcasts and videos.
Grace Beckham | Business Consultant | BAE Systems Digital Intelligence
Whether bundling up last-minute bouquets for an online florist start-up in Singapore, designing steel superstructure for Grade II* listed London prime real estate, or providing IT consulting for UK central government clients, I have enjoyed the consistent thread of tackling problems through creative teamwork in my career so far.
My background in Structural Engineering gave me a solid foundation (pun intended) to grow analytical skills and embed the importance of best practice and industry standards, as well as the dual need for `doing maths` and the ability to communicate and coordinate across a myriad of teams.
I joined BAE Systems Digital Intelligence as a Business Consultant in 2019 and have since enjoyed unpicking processes and identifying problems, learning to ask better questions to determine needs and propose solution options. I have been grateful for opportunities to progress my personal development through achieving the BCS Business Analysis Diploma, obtaining TOGAF Certified and building product experience through the Prod MBA bootcamp.
Appreciative of those who have supported me thus far, I am inspired to support colleagues in my role as a Career Manager as well as previously running our Management Consulting Buddy Scheme, to help new joiners find their feet.
Looking to the future, I am excited to continue as a `woman in technology` and see where it takes me. If it doesn`t involve more flowers... perhaps it can involve chocolate!
Julia Barr | Commercial Manager | Mott MacDonald
Following a degree in Law, I spent 4.5 years in legal publishing as an editor before moving to London and taking a job as a PA at Westminster Abbey.
Family circumstances necessitated a move to Scotland and a new role as an EA at a private school, working with the senior leadership team. Seeking fresh opportunities, I joined Mott MacDonald as a programme office coordinator on a busy, £1.6Bn+ defence infrastructure programme and worked my way up to assistant project manager via a project coordination role.
A mentoring opportunity with one of our commercial directors saw me offered a new role in commercial management which was a fantastic match for my skills and experience, and I promoted within half a year of starting the role. I now lead a small team of commercial managers, working principally on defence nuclear contracts as well as civil nuclear work.
As a working mother with three children (aged 8, 5 and 1), and a husband in the military who works away from home, I am incredibly passionate about promoting the possibilities of maintaining a healthy work-life balance with fellow military family members, among whom there is a very high rate of under-utilisation and under-employment. I offer mentoring, CV and interview workshops to those looking to gain confidence and find meaningful roles.
I was delighted recently to be awarded the Military Values in Business Award at the Scottish ex-Forces in Business Awards for my success in my role and work advocating for military family members.
Daisy Robinson | Graduate Security Consultant | BAE Systems Digital Intelligence
I joined BAE Systems Digital Intelligence in January 2023, immediately following my graduation from the University of Buckingham the previous December, with a first class BA in Security, Intelligence and Cyber.
I am currently working as a Graduate Security Consultant in the Central Government business unit.
I have always been fascinated by security studies, with a specific interest in cyber-security and I am incredibly lucky to be working for an organisation that specialises in that area.
My role at BAE Systems has allowed me to work with government clients to facilitate their growth in the cyber-security environment whilst keeping a holistic view on the essential operational capabilities of the organisation.